Stansted 15 with a petition before their trial. A group of activists who stopped a deportation flight leaving Stansted airport.

Stansted 15 with a petition before their trial. A group of activists who stopped a deportation flight leaving Stansted airport have walked free from court and are to appeal their convictions. As supporters protested outside Chelmsford Crown Court, a judge handed three defendants, who had previous convictions for aggravated trespass at airports, suspended prison terms and gave 12 defendants community sentences.The defendants, who have become known as the Stansted 15, said they were "guilty of nothing more than intervening to prevent harm" to migrants on board the plane.Speaking at the end of their nine-week trial in December, Judge Christopher Morgan said alleged human rights abuses, immigration policy and proportionality did not have "any relevance" to whether a criminal offence had been committed.Sentencing the Stansted 15 on Wednesday, he told them: "In normal circumstances only a custodial sentence would have been justified in this case, but I accept that your intentions were to demonstrate.".Watch more.‘Stansted 15' activists who stopped deportation flight found guilty.He stressed they were still convicted of a "serious offence", and while their intentions reduced their culpability the "harm in this case is great"."You took objects on to that airport," said Judge Morgan, noting that that debris on a runway can have "catastrophic effects" like the 2000 Concorde disaster.He said the activists moved a metal tripod near to the wing of the plane, where its fuel tank was located.The group were convicted of disrupting services at an aerodrome, contrary to the Aviation and Maritime Security Act 1990.In a statement, they called the prosecution "an injustice that has profound implications for our lives". Independent news email.Only the best news in your inbox.Enter your email address.Continue.Register with your social account or click here to log in.I would like to receive morning headlines.Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts by email."People seeking asylum in this country face worse than this: they are placed in destitution and their lives in limbo, by the Home Office's brutal system every single day," the Stansted 15 added.Demonstration outside court for Stansted 15 protesters."We demand that these convictions are quashed, and that the government dismantles the vicious, barely legal, immigration system that destroys so many people's lives.".Their sentencing came amid a fresh debate over the British government's deportation practices, after a new charter flight left for Jamaica.Raj Chada, a partner from Hodge Jones and Allen who represented the defendants, said: "While we are relieved that none of our clients face a custodial sentence, today is still a sad day for justice. Watch more.At least seven charter flight deportees granted last-minute reprieve.Dozens to be deported on first Jamaica charter flight since Windrush.Why 14 anti-deportation activists crashed an airline industry dinner."Our clients prevented individuals being illegally removed from the UK and should never have been charged . we will continue to fight in the appeal courts to get these wrongful convictions overturned.".United Nations human rights experts raised concern over the case and warned the British government against using security-related laws against protesters and critics. "We are concerned about the application of disproportional charges for what appears to be the exercise of the rights to peaceful and non-violent protest and freedom of expression," a statement said. "It appears that such charges were brought to deter others from taking similar peaceful direct action to defend human rights.". The group sent the government a letter on 1 February, saying the "statutory intent" of the law used must be taken into account to avoid abuse.UK news in pictures.Show all 50.25 September 2019.24 September 2019.23 September 2019.22 September 2019.The law used is not part of the Terrorism Acts, but campaigners said it was created in the wake of the